Today I Am . . .

Holding a fresh new certification for Neonatal Resuscitation in my hand. I chose to take the online exam at a close-by hospital instead of at home (which would have been unpaid) or the hospital where I work, (long drive.) Being paid for the work that I do is a must.

Happy to not be working today, as twelve hour shifts are kicking my butt lately.

Pleased to have noted that I just received a raise. My last paycheck was surprisingly large, which made me note a pretty new hourly wage. Gotta love automatic raises!

Excited that next Friday is the last day of school for my 9th and 11th-grade sons. I love being able to put aside my “What do you have for homework” style of parenting for a few months out of the year.

Remembering that it’s hard to get much accomplished when the kids are home for the summer.

Proud of my older son, who will be lifeguarding for the third year in a row.

Looking forward to taking my mother to go see a theater adaptation of Somewhere in Time on Friday. This is her Christmas present, (experiential rather than solid matter) and I was even able to use a 50%-off coupon from The Chinook Book!

Planning a backyard barbecue for next Saturday afternoon to celebrate A) The kids being out of school, B) the backyard being a thing of beauty and C) marinated meats. Must take time to celebrate the meats.

Grateful my fur baby is home from a three day stay at the veterinary specialists!!
Grateful I only have 2.5 more days of teaching 🙂
Going to grill salmon, corn on the cob, and something else for dinner
Enjoying the glorious sunshine!!

Today I was:
*Feeling grateful for the rain we received yesterday. (Hey, it’s NE, not Portland, so every bit is celebrated!)
*Enjoying a visit from a friend that moved out of state and went back to school to become a minister in her 50’s. Way to go, Suzanne!
*Mowing the huge lawn and trimming trees to get ready for a tour coming to our vinegary/winery in two days.
*Taking pictures of the shrubs and perennials in bloom in my garden.
I’m amazed they are putting on such a show after last year’s drought.
*Eating leftover prime rib that was a free bonus from our grocery store at Christmas after buying a set amount of groceries. (It’s not leftover from Christmas–we just cooked it yesterday just so you know…)
*Hoping my sewing machine gets fixed soon as I have a baby quilt, bumper pad, and crib skirt to sew for my first grandchild!
*Thankful for nurses like you that continue to keep training.
*Enjoying the cool night air coming through all our open windows.

Today I am grateful for my husband’s resolution that we are not going to find ourselves in the same position as his sister and brother-law at 57 and 60 respectively and facing losing their family home. Am grateful to the renewing effect of camping had on my soul and how much easier it’s going to make getting through the last 2 weeks of school. Three field trips for my son and I’m volunteering for all of them. I’m especially grateful to be picked to going on the houseboat tour which his class won for a water wise tips contest and I’m counting down the days till the waterslides. I hope it’s hot.

Yesterday I…..
Cleaned and tidied our balcony, it became a dumping ground over the winter.
Marvelled at my homemade pickled jalepenos and how spicy they are.
Read up on fermenting at home…sour pickles and saurkraut here I come.
Ate yet another salad…our CSA has been all leafy greens so far….so much chard..so much kale…so much mint.
Actually appreciated our south facing windows, our apartment stays cool even in the hottest of days.

Today I am
Cleaning out a back bed …the plum orchard. Haha.
Took an entire truckload to the yard waste dump.
Did two loads of laundry and vacuumed and washed the kitchen floor.
Now I am doing paperwork to rest.
Waiting for the test results on my liver!